Airport: St Helena

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the building of the new airport on St Helena; and when the airport is expected to open.

Baroness Northover: Work on the St Helena airport continues to progress well and the project is currently on schedule and on budget.
	The contractual completion date for the airport remains February 2016.

Apprenticeships

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many apprenticeships have been established in each of the constituencies in Greater Manchester in each of the last three years.

Baroness Garden of Frognal: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in Supplementary Tables to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR), last published on 31 January 2013:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/69EFC69B-C189-46C4-93C4-6B161D744073/0/January2013_Apprenticeship_Starts.xls
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/Apprenticeships/.

Audit Commission

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what legislative provisions the Audit Commission is permitted to underwrite the litigation expenses of a district auditor whose audit decision has been called into question by a member of the public.

Baroness Hanham: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Controller of Audit at the Audit Commission to write to the noble Lord direct.
	Letter from Marcine Waterman, Controller of Audit for the Audit Commission, to Lord Lucas, dated March 2013
	Under Section 3(8) of the Audit Commission Act 1998, the Audit Commission has powers to appoint firms of auditors on such terms as it determines. The commission's terms of appointment for auditors include an indemnity for the reasonable costs of litigation that arises in connection with their audit functions. Under Section 7 of the Act, the commission sets and recovers statutory audit fees, out of which it meets the costs auditors incur in the delivery of audits.
	A copy of this letter will appear in Hansard.

Disabled People: Children's Holidays

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hill of Oareford on 12 July (WA 265) relating to the Heswall Disabled Children's Holiday Fund, whether they will review the proposal to charge the Fund a flat fee and a per capita charge for each child to whom the Fund provides a holiday.

Lord Nash: We recently consulted on changes to reduce substantially the regulatory burden for holiday schemes for disabled children and the consequent cost of inspection. This was favourably received. Under the new framework, to be introduced in April, Ofsted will continue to charge a per capita fee for inspection but this will be significantly reduced. The future structure for Ofsted inspection fees, including the use of per capita charging, will be reviewed in setting the inspection fees for 2014-17.

Education: A-Levels

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each year between 2007 and 2012, what proportion of secondary schools and sixth-form colleges offered (1) economics, and (2) business studies, at A-level.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each year between 2007 and 2012, what proportion of secondary schools and sixth-form colleges provided further mathematics at A-level; and, of the schools and sixth-form colleges which did not, how many had capacity to do so.

Lord Nash: The department does not collect information on the subjects offered at A-level by schools. We do, however, publish information on A-level examinations taken in schools, which includes entries in individual subjects.
	This information for 2012 is available on our website here: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/ download_data.html.
	Click the link "KS5 qualification and subject data"; relevant information is available in the A-level tab.
	This information for 2011 is available on our website here: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/ performance/2011/download_data.html.
	Click the link "KS5 qualification and subject data"; relevant information is available in the A-level tab.
	Similar information for 2007-10 has been placed in the House Libraries.
	The department does not collect information on the capacity of schools and sixth-form colleges to teach further mathematics.

Education: Personal, Social and Health Education

Baroness Nye: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the review of personal, social and health education will be published.

Lord Nash: The internal review of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education was extended to take account of the outcomes of the wider national curriculum review. The national curriculum programmes of study have recently been released for consultation and we will announce the outcomes of the PSHE review in due course.

Energy: Power Stations

Lord Willoughby de Broke: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider extending the life of those power stations due for closure under the European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive (2001/80/EC).

Baroness Verma: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 4 March 2013 (Official Report, col. WA364).

Energy: Waste

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Richard Benyon on 5 February (Official Report, Commons, col. 133W), what treatment routes for waste to give a refuse-derived fuel are available overseas that are less harmful to the environment; and why they are not available in the United Kingdom.

Lord De Mauley: Waste can be sent for recovery elsewhere in the EU. However, refuse-derived fuel can only be exported if it has been pre-treated and is going to a facility that meets the requirements for R1 in the waste framework directive. It cannot be exported for disposal to landfill. R1 designation indicates that the recovery plant has met a minimum threshold set out in the directive that relates to its efficiency and therefore environmental performance. As such, refuse-derived fuel is a commodity in an EU market and the opportunity is there for British companies to participate.
	The same waste treatment routes are available in the UK as overseas. However, domestically we also have the option of sending waste to less environmentally beneficial routes, such as landfill. Current relative lack of domestic capacity of high-performing R1 recovery facilities means that were waste not exported it may go to a lower-performing recovery plant or to landfill.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the effect on radar systems used for the testing of drones and airborne missiles of the number in the northern Carmarthenshire area of wind turbines to generate electricity.

Baroness Verma: Assessment of the impacts of wind turbines on military radar systems specifically in northern Carmarthenshire would be conducted on a case-by-case basis.
	The department is currently dealing with an application for consent for one wind farm in Carmarthenshire (Brechfa Forest West wind farm). The potential impacts of that project on military radar will be considered as part of that application.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they had with Carmarthenshire County Council prior to approving large-scale wind turbine projects for electricity generation in the north Carmarthenshire area.

Baroness Verma: There have been no direct discussions between HM Government and Carmarthenshire County Council concerning any large-scale wind turbine projects in north Carmarthenshire.
	An inspector at the Planning Inspectorate will have considered any comments from the council and other interested parties during the examination last year of the Brechfa Forest West wind farm application. The Secretary of State is currently considering the inspector's recommendation and a decision will be made shortly.

Food: Labelling

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to revise their guidelines on identifying the calorie content of foods sold in retail outlets.

Earl Howe: EU Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (EU FIC) will make nutrition labelling mandatory from 13 December 2016 for most pre-packed food. The EU FIC stipulates that the amount of energy is labelled in both kilojoules and kilocalories on both the back and front of food packs.

Gypsies and Travellers

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the statistical returns for 2010-12 for school attendance, attainment and retention of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children.

Lord Nash: Information showing pupil absence by ethnic group and attainment information for Gypsy-Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils is shown in the tables below.
	Pupil absence data for the academic year 2011-12 will be published on 19 March at: http://www.education. gov.uk-researchandstatistics.
	Information on the retention of Gypsy-Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils of compulsory school age is not currently available. Such information is, however, being produced in response to a recent request from the Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers and will be placed in the House Libraries when complete.
	
		
			 Maintained Primary, State-funded Secondary and Special Schools (1)(2)(3) 
			 Pupil Absence by Ethnic Group 
			 2009-10 
			 England 
			  Maintained primary schools (1)State-funded secondary schools (1)(2)
			  Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10(4) Percentage of half days missed (5)   Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10 (4) Percentage of half days missed (5)   
			   Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence  Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence 
			 White 2,635,320 4.52 0.59 5.11 2,388,830 5.60 1.46 7.06 
			 White British 2,471,295 4.44 0.54 4.99 2,271,380 5.59 1.43 7.01 
			 Irish 10,855 4.85 0.87 5.72 10,075 6.02 1.66 7.68 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 3,765 15.66 6.55 22.21 1,300 15.82 11.11 26.93 
			 Gypsy/Roma 8,955 11.42 5.61 17.04 4,140 10.39 9.60 19.99 
			 Any other white background 140,450 5.29 1.07 6.36 101,935 5.54 1.88 7.42 
			 Mixed 148,440 4.76 0.96 5.72 104,425 5.56 1.80 7.36 
			 White and Black Caribbean 45,090 4.87 1.18 6.05 36,470 5.97 2.26 8.23 
			 White and Black African 17,215 4.39 0.88 5.27 10,720 5.11 1.68 6.78 
			 White and Asian 32,035 4.73 0.74 5.47 21,125 5.34 1.41 6.75 
			 Any other mixed background 54,100 4.81 0.92 5.73 36,115 5.41 1.61 7.02 
			 Asian 326,895 5.12 0.98 6.10 225,985 4.71 1.17 5.89 
			 Indian 85,285 4.58 0.61 5.19 66,470 4.15 0.71 4.85 
			 Pakistani 137,550 5.46 1.17 6.63 87,220 5.36 1.50 6.86 
			 Bangladeshi 56,455 5.54 1.25 6.79 37,290 4.77 1.48 6.25 
			 Any other Asian background 47,605 4.59 0.75 5.34 35,005 4.14 0.93 5.07 
			 Black 176,560 3.57 0.91 4.48 131,930 3.78 1.22 5.00 
			 Black Caribbean 47,885 4.04 1.22 5.27 41,460 4.59 1.60 6.20 
			 Black African 107,615 3.31 0.73 4.04 75,800 3.22 0.94 4.16 
			 Any other Black background 21,060 3.85 1.05 4.90 14,670 4.29 1.60 5.88 
			 Chinese 11,850 3.51 0.38 3.89 10,570 2.82 0.48 3.30 
			 Any other ethnic group 51,845 4.81 1.18 5.99 35,580 4.58 1.52 6.10 
			 Minority ethnic pupils (6) 879,610 4.83 1.04 5.86 625,940 4.83 1.48 6.31 
			 All pupils (7) 3,374,040 4.54 0.67 5.21 2,934,805 5.43 1.45 6.88 
		
	
	
		
			 Maintained Primary, State-funded Secondary and Special Schools (1)(2)(3) 
			 Pupil Absence by Ethnic Group 
			 2009-10 
			 England 
			  Special School(3)Total
			  Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10(4) Percentage of half days missed (5)   Pupil enrolments in schools during 2009-10 (4) Percentage of half days missed (5)   
			   Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence  Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence 
			 White 63,135 7.98 2.03 10.01 5,087,285 5.07 1.02 6.09 
			 White British 60,460 7.89 2.02 9.92 4,803,135 5.03 0.98 6.01 
			 Irish 235 10.71 3.51 14.22 21,165 5.48 1.28 6.75 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 85 17.11 7.14 24.25 5,150 15.73 7.78 23.50 
			 Gypsy/Roma 190 15.10 8.51 23.61 13,285 11.15 6.94 18.09 
			 Any other white background 2,165 9.32 1.33 10.64 244,550 5.43 1.41 6.84 
			 Mixed 3,115 8.84 2.90 11.73 255,980 5.14 1.33 6.46 
			 White and Black Caribbean 1,170 9.35 4.14 13.49 82,730 5.41 1.70 7.12 
			 White and Black African 320 7.37 2.83 10.19 28,255 4.70 1.21 5.90 
			 White and Asian 485 8.28 1.63 9.92 53,645 5.01 1.01 6.02 
			 Any other mixed background 1,140 8.97 2.20 11.17 91,350 5.10 1.21 6.31 
			 Asian 6,320 11.45 1.25 12.70 559,200 5.02 1.06 6.08 
			 Indian 1,150 9.51 0.76 10.27 152,905 4.42 0.66 5.08 
			 Pakistani 3,350 11.93 1.47 13.39 228,120 5.50 1.30 6.80 
			 Bangladeshi 840 12.63 1.66 14.28 94,585 5.30 1.34 6.64 
			 Any other Asian background 980 11.34 0.78 12.12 83,595 4.47 0.83 5.30 
			 Black 4,405 7.67 1.58 9.25 312,890 3.72 1.05 4.77 
			 Black Caribbean 1,390 7.60 2.29 9.89 90,740 4.35 1.41 5.76 
			 Black African 2,320 7.77 1.09 8.86 185,735 3.33 0.82 4.15 
			 Any other Black background 690 7.47 1.81 9.28 36,420 4.09 1.29 5.38 
			 Chinese 190 9.08 0.46 9.54 22,605 3.22 0.43 3.65 
			 Any other ethnic group 785 10.62 1.61 12.23 88,210 4.77 1.32 6.09 
			 Minority ethnic pupils (6) 17,485 9.71 1.79 11.50 1,523,035 4.88 1.23 6.11 
			 All pupils (7) 78,840 8.30 1.98 10.27 6,387,685 5.00 1.04 6.04 
		
	
	Source: School Census
	(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(2) Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies).
	(3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools.
	(4) Number of enrolments in schools from start of the school year up until 28 May 2010. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school).
	(5) The number of sessions missed due to authorised/unauthorised/overall absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
	(6) Pupils who have been classified according to their ethnic group, excluding White British.
	(7) Includes pupil enrolments for whom information on ethnic group was unclassified or missing.
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.
	
		
			 State-funded Primary, Secondary and Special Schools (1)(2)(3)(4) 
			 Pupil Absence by Ethnic Group 
			 2010-11 
			 England 
			  State-funded primary schools (1)(2)State-funded secondary schools (1)(3)
			  Pupil enrolments in schools during 2010-11 (5) Percentage of half days missed (6)   Pupil enrolments in schools during 2010-11 (5) Percentage of half days missed (6)   
			   Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence  Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence 
			 White 2,618,170 4.3 0.6 4.9 2,346,245 5.3 1.5 6.7 
			 White British 2,449,745 4.2 0.6 4.8 2,230,270 5.2 1.4 6.7 
			 Irish 10,430 4.6 0.8 5.5 9,910 5.5 1.7 7.1 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 3,710 15.7 6.0 21.7 1,275 14.8 11.7 26.4 
			 Gypsy/Roma 9,775 10.8 5.5 16.3 4,695 10.0 9.7 19.7 
			 Any other white background 144,510 4.9 1.1 6.1 100,095 5.1 2.0 7.1 
			 Mixed 156,155 4.5 1.0 5.5 108,980 5.2 1.8 7.0 
			 White and Black Caribbean 46,250 4.6 1.3 5.8 37,425 5.6 2.4 7.9 
			 White and Black African 18,585 4.2 1.0 5.2 11,555 4.7 1.6 6.3 
			 White and Asian 34,450 4.5 0.8 5.3 22,525 5.0 1.4 6.3 
			 Any other mixed background 56,875 4.5 1.0 5.5 37,475 5.0 1.6 6.6 
			 Asian 335,730 4.9 1.0 5.9 231,685 4.6 1.2 5.8 
			 Indian 86,830 4.4 0.7 5.1 66,575 3.9 0.7 4.6 
			 Pakistani 141,385 5.2 1.2 6.4 90,390 5.3 1.6 6.9 
			 Bangladeshi 57,550 5.4 1.2 6.6 38,615 4.7 1.5 6.2 
			 Any other Asian background 49,965 4.3 0.8 5.1 36,100 3.8 0.9 4.7 
			 Black 181,150 3.3 0.9 4.3 134,455 3.5 1.2 4.7 
			 Black Caribbean 46,935 3.8 1.3 5.1 40,700 4.3 1.6 5.9 
			 Black African 112,030 3.1 0.8 3.9 78,720 3.0 1.0 4.0 
			 Any other Black background 22,180 3.5 1.1 4.6 15,030 3.9 1.5 5.4 
			 Chinese 11,995 3.3 0.4 3.7 10,375 2.5 0.4 2.9 
			 Any other ethnic group 53,315 4.6 1.3 5.8 36,060 4.2 1.6 5.8 
			 Minority ethnic pupils (7) 906,770 4.6 1.1 5.7 637,530 4.5 1.5 6.1 
			 All pupils (8) 3,392,330 4.3 0.7 5.0 2,911,100 5.1 1.4 6.5 
		
	
	
		
			 State-funded Primary, Secondary and Special Schools (1)(2)(3)(4): 
			 Pupil Absence by Ethnic Group 
			 2010-11 
			 England 
			  Special Schools (4)Total
			  Pupil enrolments in schools during 2010-11 (5) Percentage of half days missed (6)   Pupil enrolments in schools during 2010-11 (5) Percentage of half days missed (6)   
			   Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence  Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall Absence 
			 White 62,220 7.7 2.1 9.8 5,026,635 4.8 1.0 5.8 
			 White British 59,620 7.6 2.1 9.7 4,739,635 4.8 1.0 5.8 
			 Irish 235 9.3 3.1 12.5 20,580 5.1 1.3 6.4 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 80 18.8 8.2 27.0 5,065 15.5 7.5 23.0 
			 Gypsy/Roma 200 14.4 7.1 21.5 14,670 10.5 6.9 17.5 
			 Any other white background 2,085 9.2 1.5 10.8 246,685 5.0 1.5 6.5 
			 Mixed 3,390 8.0 2.7 10.7 268,525 4.8 1.4 6.2 
			 White and Black Caribbean 1,270 8.3 3.6 11.9 84,940 5.1 1.8 6.8 
			 White and Black African 355 6.0 2.0 8.0 30,490 4.4 1.2 5.6 
			 White and Asian 550 8.2 2.2 10.4 57,525 4.7 1.0 5.8 
			 Any other mixed background 1,220 8.0 2.4 10.4 95,570 4.8 1.2 6.0 
			 Asian 6,435 11.3 1.3 12.6 573,850 4.8 1.1 5.9 
			 Indian 1,215 9.4 0.7 10.1 154,620 4.2 0.7 4.9 
			 Pakistani 3,385 12.1 1.4 13.5 235,155 5.4 1.3 6.7 
			 Bangladeshi 905 12.3 1.4 13.7 97,075 5.2 1.3 6.5 
			 Any other Asian background 930 10.0 1.5 11.5 86,995 4.2 0.8 5.0 
			 Black 4,555 7.2 1.6 8.8 320,155 3.5 1.1 4.5 
			 Black Caribbean 1,430 7.0 2.5 9.5 89,070 4.0 1.5 5.5 
			 Black African 2,430 7.4 1.1 8.6 193,180 3.1 0.8 4.0 
			 Any other Black background 695 6.9 1.6 8.4 37,905 3.7 1.3 5.0 
			 Chinese 185 6.4 0.7 7.1 22,560 2.9 0.4 3.4 
			 Any other ethnic group 825 9.6 1.5 11.2 90,200 4.5 1.4 5.9 
			 Minority ethnic pupils (7) 17,990 9.3 1.8 11.1 1,562,290 4.6 1.3 5.9 
			 All pupils (8) 79,405 8.0 2.0 10.0 6,382,835 4.7 1.1 5.8 
		
	
	Source: School Census
	(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(2) Includes primary academies.
	(3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies.
	(4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
	(5) Number of enrolments in schools from start of the school year up until 27 May 2011. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school).
	(6) The number of sessions missed due to authorised/unauthorised/overall absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
	(7) Pupils who have been classified according to their ethnic group, excluding White British.
	(8) Includes pupil enrolments for whom information on ethnic group was unclassified or missing.
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.
	
		
			 Table 1: Achievements at GCSE and equivalent for Gypsy-Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils1 at the end of Key Stage 4 
			 Years: 2009-10 to 2011-12 (revised)2,3,4 
			 Coverage: England, State-funded Schools (including Academies and CTCs) 
			  2009-10  2010-11  2011-12  
			  Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy-Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy-Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy-Roma 
			 KS4   
			 Number of eligible pupils1 123 534 137 594 132 720 
			 Percentage of pupils achieving   
			 5+ A*-C grades 36.6 27.9 35.0 31.5 37.9 38.2 
			 5+ A*-C grades inc. English & mathematics GCSEs 22.0 8.4 17.5 10.8 16.7 9.3 
			 5+ A*-G grades 66.7 59.0 55.5 59.3 62.9 65.1 
			 5+ A*-G grades inc. English & mathematics GCSEs 64.2 53.2 48.2 50.5 60.6 54.6 
			 A*-C in English and mathematics GCSEs . . 18.2 11.1 18.2 9.6 
			 A*-C grades in a Modern Foreign Language 3.3 4.9 3.6 4.0 3.0 5.6 
			 5+ A*-C grades exc. equivalents inc. English and mathematics GCSEs5 . . 13.1 7.7 9.1 6.5 
			 Entered the English Baccalaureate . . 5.8 1.3 4.5 2.1 
			 Achieved the English Baccalaureate . . 2.2 0.5 2.3 0.8 
			 Expected progress in English . . 33.8 25.4 27.2 25.7 
			 Expected progress in mathematics . . 23.4 18.1 25.8 20.3 
		
	
	Source: National Pupil Database (2009-10 to 2010-11) and Key Stage 4 attainment data (2011-12)
	1 Number of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in each academic year.
	2 Figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are based on final data; 2011-12 figures are based on revised data.
	3 From 2009-10 iGCSEs, accredited at time of publication, have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs.
	4 Includes attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years.
	5 GCSEs only (including iGCSEs, short courses, double awards and vocational GCSEs) and AS levels.
	. = Not applicable.
	
		
			 Table 2: Achievements by Gypsy/Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils at the end of Key Stage 2 
			 Years: 2010 to 2012 (Revised)1 
			 Coverage: England, State-funded Schools (including Academies and CTCs) 
			  2010  2011  2012  
			 KS2 Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma 
			 KS2 English   
			 Number of eligible pupils 275 805 376 1,202 404 1,377 
			 Percentage achieving the expected level2 33 31 38 30 44 36 
			 Percentage making expected progress3 . . 71 65 77 71 
			 KS2 Maths   
			 Number of eligible pupils 274 801 376 1,202 409 1,387 
			 Percentage achieving the expected level2 38 31 39 33 46 39 
			 Percentage making expected progress3 . . 66 58 68 66 
			 Key Stage 2 English & Mathematics   
			 Number of eligible pupils 274 801 376 1,202 403 1,377 
			 Percentage achieving the expected level2 26 23 30 23 36 29 
			 Key Stage 2 Reading, Writing & Mathematics   
			 Number of eligible pupils . . 376 1,202 403 1,377 
			 Percentage achieving the expected level2 . . 24 18 29 24 
		
	
	Source: National Pupil Database
	1. Figures for 2008 to 2011 are based on final data; 2012 figures are based on revised data.
	2. Percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above.
	3. Pupils are expected to progress by at least 2 levels between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
	. = Not applicable.
	
		
			 Table 3: Percentage of Gypsy/Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils achieving level 2 or above in Key Stage 1 teacher assessments 
			 Years 2010 to 2012 (provisional)1 
			 Coverage: England 
			 School Type: State-funded Schools (including Academies) 
			  2010  2011  2012  
			 KS1 Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma 
			 KS1 Reading   
			 Number of eligible pupils2 469 1,173 483 1,358 496 1,570 
			 Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above 35 37 40 35 39 38 
			 KS1 Writing   
			 Number of eligible pupils2 469 1,172 483 1,358 496 1,570 
			 Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above 30 32 32 30 32 34 
			 KS1 Mathematics   
			 Number of eligible pupils2 469 1,173 483 1,358 496 1,570 
			 Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above 50 53 55 50 55 50 
			 KS1 Science   
			 Number of eligible pupils2 469 1,173 483 1,358 496 1,570 
			 Percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above 51 52 57 49 52 48 
		
	
	Source: National Pupil Database
	1 Figures for 2010 - 2011 are based on final data; 2012 figures are based on provisional data.
	2Includes pupils achieving levels 1, 2 (including levels 2C, 2B and 2A), 3, 4, those who were working towards level 1, who were disapplied from the National Curriculum, who were significantly absent so that no TA could be made on that pupil or who were unable to access the assessment (relevant to science only). Pupils with missing, or invalid results are not included in the calculations.
	. = Not applicable.
	
		
			 Table 4: Achievement in Early Years Foundation Stage Profile teacher assessments by Gypsy/Roma and Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils 
			 Years: 2010 to 20121 
			 Coverage: England2 
			 School Type: All types of schools or early education providers that deliver the EYFS to children in receipt of a government-funded place3 
			  2010  2011  2012  
			 EYFSP Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma Traveller Of Irish Heritage Gypsy/Roma 
			 Number of eligible pupils2 391 913 435 1,174 498 1,289 
			 Percentage achieving6 or more points in each of the 7 scales of PSE and CLL4 20 21 21 22 28 26 
			 Percentage achieving78 or more points across all scales 41 40 42 41 47 45 
			 Percentage achieving a good level of development5 20 21 21 22 28 26 
			 Classified as being in the lowest 20% of achievement6 55 57 57 57 56 58 
		
	
	Source: National Pupil Database
	1 Figures for all years are based on final data.
	2 Only includes pupils with a valid result for every achievement scale.
	3 All English providers of state-funded early years education (including Academies and Free Schools), private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sectors are within the scope of the EYFSP data collection. Data for any children in the PVI sector no longer in receipt of funding who were included in the return submitted by the LA to DfE will not be included in the figures.
	4 A pupil who achieves 6 or more points in each of the 7 scales in the Personal, Social and Emotional development (PSE) and Communication, Language and Literacy areas of learning (CLL).
	5 A pupil achieving 6 or more points across the 7 Scales of PSE and CLL and who also achieves 78 or more points across all 13 scales is classed as having "a good level of development".
	6 Percentage of pupils in this group who are classified as being in the lowest achieving 20%.
	. = Not applicable.

Homelessness

Baroness King of Bow: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Housing, Mark Prisk, on 18 January 2013 (Official Report, Commons, col. 957W), whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the note from their recent roundtable discussion with representatives of London boroughs with high homelessness numbers.

Baroness Hanham: A copy of the note of the Homelessness Roundtable held on 4 December 2012 has been placed in the House Library.
	Allowing homeless households to languish for long periods in expensive temporary accommodation is unfair to the taxpayer and unfair for the households themselves. This is why we have introduced a new power that will allow local housing authorities to end the main homelessness duty with offers of accommodation in the private rented sector without requiring the applicant's agreement.
	This gives authorities the freedom to make better use of good-quality private sector accommodation, which will mean less time spent in temporary accommodation-thereby allowing homeless households to move to settled accommodation more quickly. In addition, there will be more social lettings available to households on the waiting list who are in greatest need.
	But we are not complacent about this important issue. We continue to work with the Mayor's Office and London Councils to help to address this and we are looking at how we can increase the transparency and accountability around how authorities house vulnerable homeless families.

Horses

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the United Kingdom horse passport scheme; and, if so, when this will be completed.

Lord De Mauley: The Government remain committed to exploring ways to improve the horse passport system within the framework of European legislation. The Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, and I met representatives of various equine sectors on 21 February to discuss such issues.

House of Lords: Members

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hill of Oareford on 13 February (WA 165) stating that they have no further plans for legislation to reform the House of Lords in this Parliament, whether they intend to appoint further Members to reflect the outcome of the last general election; whether they have taken a view as to the appropriate size of the membership of the House in the absence of legislation to reform it; and, if so, what is that view.

Lord Hill of Oareford: As stated in the programme for government, appointments will be made to the House of Lords with the objective of creating a second Chamber that reflects the share of the vote secured by the political parties at the last general election.
	The Government believe that the question of the optimum size of the House of Lords can only be addressed appropriately in legislation for comprehensive reform.

Mayor of London

Lord Harris of Haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from the Mayor of London in the last year on (1) health services in London, (2) housing provision in London, and (3) the impact of changes in welfare benefits on the people of London.

Baroness Hanham: The Department of Health has held a number of discussions over the last year with the Greater London Authority, London Councils and the Local Government Association about the London Health Improvement Board. We recognise that there is potential for delivering health improvement services on a city-wide basis in London. The London Health Improvement Board has been meeting since July 2011.
	The Localism Act conferred on the Mayor of London responsibility for housing, economic development and Olympic legacy in London, in addition to existing responsibilities over transport, planning and the police. Therefore, the mayor is responsible for housing and regeneration policy in London. The Department for Communities and Local Government has regular conversations with the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority regarding housing provision in London. Over the last year these conversations have focused on a broad range of issues, such as funding and delivery of affordable housing, increasing investment in the private rented sector, getting surplus public sector land back into use and dealing with homelessness and rough sleeping.
	The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities and Local Government have had and continue to have regular discussions with representatives from the Greater London Authority, London Councils and London local authorities on a wide range of welfare reform issues.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government has also received representations from the Greater London Authority in response to the consultations on funding arrangements and changes to the tax base in relation to the localisation of council tax support.

NHS PropCo

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what management arrangements at regional and local level are being made by NHS PropCo (1) in the North West, and (2) elsewhere in England.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons will be employed by NHS PropCo on 1 April 2013; where they will be located; and how many employees will be located in each place.

Earl Howe: National Health Service Property Services Ltd (NHS PS) will consist nationally of a small board of directors, with most of its staff being at a regional and local level. It has four regional directors (North of England, Midlands and East, London and South of England), with teams that will work closely with the new NHS structure, and with the majority of staff being locally based and delivering services to patients, NHS staff and the public.
	The precise number of staff to be employed by NHS PS, locally and nationally, is not yet known. However, it is anticipated that some 3,000 staff working in estates and facilities roles in primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities will transfer under transfer of undertaking protection of employment legislation to the company. Staff will transfer on 1 April 2013. The company is recruiting to a further 72 posts to fulfil corporate roles such as in finance, information technology and human resources. This type of support is now provided to local estates teams by the PCTs of which they are currently part.

NHS PropCo

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government which NHS properties in Lancashire will be transferred to NHS PropCo; and which properties owned by primary care trusts will be transferred to (a) NHS trusts, (b) clinical commissioning groups, and (c) other bodies.

Earl Howe: The department is currently reviewing and finalising the provisionally agreed lists of NHS properties due to transfer to National Health Service bodies or NHS Property Services Ltd. These will shortly be approved and actual transfers of estate will take place on 1 April 2013.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government who has resigned from the Northern Ireland Parades Commission since 2009; when and why; and who replaced them.

Baroness Randerson: Since 2009, two members of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland have resigned their posts. Ms Anne Monaghan resigned with effect from 31 December 2009 and was subsequently replaced by Mr Michael Doherty. Dr Catriona King resigned with effect from 31 January 2013; arrangements for a replacement will be made in due course. In each case, the decision to resign was a personal matter for the individuals concerned.

Northern Ireland Parades Commission

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many complaints have been made against members of staff of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission by (1) members of staff of that organisation, and (2) members of the public; and what was the outcome of any inquiries held as a result.

Baroness Randerson: The Parades Commission for Northern Ireland is independent of government. The noble Lord may wish to write to the commission direct on these matters.

Overseas Aid

Lord Teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what emphasis they place on establishing and implementing aid programmes that transfer engineering and design knowledge and suitable technology.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government are committed to ensuring high-quality scientific and engineering evidence is effectively integrated into policy development and delivery. DfID's allocation of £56 million up to 2020 on scientific and engineering research capacity strengthening in developing countries is a clear acknowledgement of the important role capacity building has (as part of its portfolio of interventions) in meeting the millennium development goals.
	The Africa Community Access Project (AFCAP) is one example of a highly successful DfID-funded programme of research, knowledge dissemination and training on rural transport. Engineering research under AFCAP is changing the way rural, low-volume roads are designed, built and maintained. The AFCAP road design manuals will influence the construction and maintenance of 70,000 kilometres of roads in Ethiopia by 2020. The manuals being developed for the other five focus countries will similarly influence their entire low-volume road networks. The total length of these road networks is 194,500 kilometres.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 25 February (WA 257), what representations they have received about the selection process for the deputy and assistant crime commissioners in South Wales.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government have received no representations about the selection process for deputy or assistant police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in South Wales. It is for the PCC to select his team and justify his decisions to the community he serves.

Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections

Lord Condon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the recommendations made in the Electoral Reform Society's report "How not to run an election: The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections 2012".

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The police and crime commissioner elections marked a landmark democratic reform of policing. More than 5 million people voted, a number that is likely to grow in future elections as people see the real impact PCCs are already making in their areas. The Home Office will consider the points made in the report, alongside the conclusions of the Electoral Commission's assessment when it is published.

Schools: Academies

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether financial inducements are being offered to primary and secondary schools to encourage them to convert to academies in Lancashire and in other parts of the country; and, if so, what is the size of such inducements in each area.

Lord Nash: Schools which are becoming academies are entitled to grants and legal fees to support the improvements needed.
	All schools becoming sponsored academies will receive £25,000 to cover costs such as legal expenses. This funding is either paid directly to the school or to the sponsor, depending on who will be incurring the costs.
	Sponsors are able to claim up to a further £40,000 for a primary, or up to £65,000 for a secondary, where there is evidence that this is needed to plan for and start to implement action to transform the underperforming school. Funding of up to £200,000 is available for schools that face significant educational problems and require intensive support from the sponsor and the department.
	The department will expect this funding to make a rapid difference in securing improvements.
	This funding existed under the last Government and we have been clear and open about what is available with all information on our website.

Schools: Asbestos

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of schools in England which have asbestos in their buildings; and what is the estimated cost of clearing all such schools of asbestos.

Lord Nash: The Department for Education does not collect information on the presence and condition of asbestos in schools or the estimated cost of clearing it. The control of asbestos regulations require duty holders to collect this information.
	The Department for Education does not have information on the number of schools in England that have been cleared of asbestos during the past five years or the estimated cost of doing so. These are matters for the duty holders and the local management of schools.
	However, we know that the majority of existing schools were built in the period up to 1999 when the use of asbestos was banned. Up until then, asbestos was used in some form in most building works, whether domestic or non-domestic.

Schools: Asbestos

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many schools in England have been cleared of asbestos during the past five years; and what is the estimated cost of so doing.

Lord Nash: The Department for Education does not collect information on the presence and condition of asbestos in schools or the estimated cost of clearing it. The control of asbestos regulations require duty holders to collect this information.
	The Department for Education does not have information on the number of schools in England that have been cleared of asbestos during the past five years or the estimated cost of doing so. These are matters for the duty holders and the local management of schools.

Schools: Nurses

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many school nurses were employed by (1) primary schools, and (2) secondary schools, in England in each of the past five years.

Earl Howe: The information requested on numbers of school nurses employed by primary and secondary schools is not collected centrally. School nurses are employed by a variety of employers, including the National Health Service and state and independent schools.
	The annual workforce census published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre collects the number of school nurses (with the post-registration school nurse qualification) employed by the NHS in England at 30 September each year up to 2011. It does not capture those employed by state and independent schools or other non-NHS employers. A number of qualified school nurses will also work conterminously across primary care trust (PCT) boundaries but be employed directly by one single PCT.
	Information on the number of qualified school nurses employed in the NHS in 2012 will be available following publication of the annual workforce census on 21 March 2013.
	The number of qualified school nurses employed by the NHS in England in each of the past five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 NHS Hospital and Community Health Services: School Nurses, as at 30 September, 2007 to 2011 
			 England as at 30 September each year Full-time equivalent 
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 School nurse 892 1,045 1,167 1,096 1,165 
		
	
	Notes:
	Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	The figures only include those school nurses directly employed by the NHS in England as we do not hold information on those school nurses directly employed by schools or local education authorities.
	Data quality:
	The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but, unless it is significant at national level, figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Sri Lanka

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they currently have plans forcibly to return Sri Lankan refugees living in the United Kingdom.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The UK Border Agency does not return refugees. The UK Border Agency only returns individuals, including failed asylum seekers, whom it and the courts have found not to be in need of international protection and who have chosen not to leave the UK voluntarily. Enforced returns are only undertaken when it is safe to do so.

Trading Standards Officers

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trading standards officers are currently in post; and how many were in post in May 2010 and in May 2011.

Baroness Hanham: The information requested is not collected by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Women's Business Council

Baroness Nye: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Women's Business Council report will be published.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: The council will publish its report and recommendations later in 2013.